


A ict/yie/n, & , fac-i 14 r, 

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ADDRESS 

OF THE 


PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES 


at the Opening of the 

CONFERENCE 
ON LIMITATION 
OF ARMAMENT 

AT WASHINGTON 
NOV EM BER 12, 192 1 



WASHINGTON 

1921 










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ADDRESS. 




Mr. Secretary and Members of the Conference, Ladies and 
Gentlemen : It is a great and happy privilege to bid the delegates 
to this Conference a cordial welcome to the Capital of the United 
States of America. It is not only a satisfaction to greet you be¬ 
cause we were lately participants in a common cause, in which shared 
sacrifices and sorrows and triumphs brought our nations more 
closely together, but it is gratifying to address you as the spokes¬ 
men for nations whose convictions and attending actions have so 
much to do with the weal or woe of all mankind. 

It is not possible to overappraise the importance of such a confer¬ 
ence. It is no unseemly boast, no disparagement of other nations 
which, though not represented, are held in highest respect, to declare 
that the conclusions of this body will have a signal influence on all 
human progress—on the fortunes of the world. 

Here is a meeting, I can well believe, which is an earnest of the 
awakened conscience of twentieth century civilization. It is not a 
convention of remorse, nor a session of sorrow. It is not the con¬ 
ference of victors to define terms of settlement. Nor is it a council 
of nations seeking to remake humankind. It is rather a coming 
together, from all parts of the earth, to apply the better attributes 
of mankind to minimize the faults in our international relationships. 

Speaking as official sponsor for the invitation, I think I may say 
the call is not of the United States of America alone, it is father the 
spoken word of a war-wearied world, struggling for restoration, 
hungering and thirsting for better relationship; of humanity crying 
for relief and craving assurances of lasting peace. 

It is easy to understand this world-wide aspiration. The glory of 
triumph, the rejoicing in achievement, the love of liberty, the de¬ 
votion to country, the pangs of sorrow, the burdens of debt,- the 
desolation of ruin—all these are appraised alike in all lands. Here 
in the United States we are but freshly turned from the burial of 
an unknown American soldier, when a nation sorrowed while paying 
him tribute. Whether it was spoken or not, a hundred millions of 
our people were summarizing the inexcusable causes, the incalculable 
cost, the unspeakable sacrifices, and the unutterable sorrows, and 
there was the ever impelling question: How can humanity justify or 
God forgive? Human hate demands no such toll; ambition and 
breed must be denied it. If misunderstanding must take the blame, 

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75535—21 (3) 



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then let us banish it, and let understanding rule and make good will 
regnant everywhere. All of us demand liberty and justice. There 
can not be one without the other, and they must be held the un¬ 
questioned possession of all peoples. Inherent rights are of God, and 
the tragedies of the world originate in their attempted denial. The 
world to-day is infringing their enjoyment by arming to defend or 
deny, when simple sanity calls for their recognition through common 
understanding. 

Out of the cataclysm of the World War came new fellowships, new 
convictions, new aspirations. It is ours to make the most of them. A 
world staggering with debt needs its burden lifted. Humanity which 
has been shocked b}^ wanton destruction would minimize the agencies 
of that destruction. Contemplating the measureless cost of war and 
the continuing burden bf armament, all thoughtful peoples wish for 
real limitation of armament and would like war outlawed. In sober¬ 
est reflection the world’s hundreds of millions who pay in peace and 
die in war wish their statesmen to turn the expenditures for de¬ 
struction into means of construction, aimed at a higher state for those 
who live and follow after. 

It is not alone that the world can not readjust itself and cast aside 
the excess burdens without relief from the leaders of men. War has 
grown progressively cruel and more destructive from the first re¬ 
corded conflict to this pregnant day, and the reverse order would 
more become our boasted civilization. 

Gentlemen of the Conference, the United States welcomes you with 
unselfish hands. We harbor no fears; we have no sordid ends to 
serve; we suspect no enemy; we contemplate or apprehend no con¬ 
quest. Content with what we have, we seek nothing which is an¬ 
other’s. We only wish to do with you that finer, nobler thing which 
no nation can do alone. 

We wish to sit with you at the table of international understand¬ 
ing and good will. In good conscience we are eager to meet you 
frankly, and invite and offer cooperation. The world demands a 
sober contemplation of the existing order and the realization that 
there can be no cure without sacrifice, not by one of us, but by all 
of us. 

I do not mean surrendered rights, or narrowed freedom, or denied 
aspirations, or ignored national necessities. Our Republic would no 
more ask for these than it would give. No pride need be humbled, 
no nationality submerged, but I would have a mergence of minds 
committing all of us to less preparation for war and more enjoyment 
of fortunate peace. 

. The higher hopes come of the spirit of our coming together. It is 
but just to recognize varying needs and peculiar positions. Nothing 
can be accomplished in disregard of national apprehensions. Rather, 


we should act together to remove the causes of apprehensions. This 
is not to be done in intrigue. Greater assurance is found in the ex¬ 
changes of simple honesty and directness, among men resolved to 
accomplish as becomes leaders among nations, when civilization itself 
has come to its crucial test. 

It is not to be challenged that government fails when the excess 
of its cost robs the people of the way to happiness and the oppor¬ 
tunity to achieve. If the finer sentiments were not urging, the cold, 
hard facts of excessive cost and the eloquence of economics would 
urge us to reduce our armaments. If the concept of a better order 
does not appeal, then let us ponder the burden and the blight of 
continued competition. 

It is not to be denied that the world has swung along throughout 
the ages without heeding this call from the kindlier hearts of men. 
But the same world never before was so tragically brought to reali¬ 
zation of the utter futility of passion’s sway when reason and con¬ 
science and fellowship point a nobler way. 

I can speak officially only for our United States. Our hundred 
millions frankly want less of armament and none of war. Wholly 
free from guile, sure in our own minds that we harbor no unworthy 
designs, we accredit the world with the same good intent. So I wel¬ 
come you, not alone in good will and high purpose, but with high 
faith. 

We are met for a service to mankind. In all simplicity, in all 
honesty and all honor, there may be written here the avowals of a 
world conscience refined by the consuming fires of war, and made 
more sensitive by the anxious aftermath. I hope for that under¬ 
standing which will emphasize the guarantees of peace, and for com¬ 
mitments to less burdens and a better order which will tranquilize 
the world. In such an accomplishment there will be added glory to 
your flags and ours, and the rejoicing of mankind will make the 
transcending music of all succeeding time. 






















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